Supernova E3 Symmetrical - Apparent failure of capacitor

So, I just replaced my flagging MS900 by treating myself to a new dynohub (Alfine) and lighting setup, namely the Supernova E3 Pro with the compatible tail light.

I decided on this setup after doing quite a bit of online research, and am very impressed with the overall build quality and the level of illumination. It is quite comparable to my magicshine, with less of a hotspot issue - better overall, IMO.

However, after only a few miles, I noticed my standlight and my tail light were not working. After some more research, I learned that the internal standlight capacitor (which provides 5 minutes of light while stopped) also powers the tail light. I have drawn the conclusion that my light was shipped with a faulty capacitor, and am working on getting a warranty replacement.

It is quite comparable to my magicshine, with less of a hotspot issue - better overall, IMO

Canyoneagle, i was just considering buying an E3 Pro but i was wondering how much better would it be than my current B&M Cyo. So just read your report and i'm shocked reading you that your E3 Pro (220 Lumens) was providing as much light as your Magicshine (900 Lumens), so maybe were you talking about your Magicshine's "low" mode?? (they claim 300 Lumen for the Low mode), or where you comparing it to a full power Magicshine?

I have two more questions: Does the E3 give plenty of light at low speeds? and, have you ever see a B&M Cyo to compare it to the E3 Pro?

I'm sorry i can't answer to your doubts but i've heard Supernova has a great customer service.

Sorry to be OT here, but i need to know...
Canyoneagle, i was just considering buying an E3 Pro but i was wondering how much better would it be than my current B&M Cyo. So just read your report and i'm shocked reading you that your E3 Pro (220 Lumens) was providing as much light as your Magicshine (900 Lumens), so maybe were you talking about your Magicshine's "low" mode?? (they claim 300 Lumen for the Low mode), or where you comparing it to a full power Magicshine?

I have two more questions: Does the E3 give plenty of light at low speeds? and, have you ever see a B&M Cyo to compare it to the E3 Pro?

I'm sorry i can't answer to your doubts but i've heard Supernova has a great customer service.

Coque.

Quoted lumens on the MS have been questioned, and most folks feel that real output is more like 500-600 max not 900. The model of E3 that I have (symmetrical "Iris") is rated at 370 output. To my eye, the MS is brighter, but the beam pattern has more artifacts and dead spots. The E3 has a bright beam with a very homogenous beam pattern that illuminates the road better in my perspective. the light isn't as "white" and doesn't wash things out as much as the MagicShine.
Don' get me wrong - the MS900 is a terrific value for its price.
To answer your other questions - I do not have any experience with the B&M products, but considered the Cyo as an alternate to the E3.
The E3 comes on at very low speeds (it illuminates when I walk the bike at a moderate pace) and seems to hit full brightness very quickly.

The E3 with symmetrical Iris-lens has a narrowly focussed beam center giving you a great, far reaching high beam. Ideal for fast riders and speeds between 15-60 mph. Very good illumination of road signs.

@adclark - can't see the capacitor, and the enclosure is not easily opened without possible non-warranty covered damage.

I suspect the capacitor due to the fact that this is the component that powers the standlight and the tail light. Neither of these is working, yet the headlight works just fine when I'm riding. seems like the obvious culprit is the capacitor. I won't know for sure, of course until the warranty swap is complete.
I don't get very excited about the prospect of having to send my main light back to germany, and re-installing my flagging ms900 in the mean time.

Thanks a lot ofr all that info Canyoneagle, the thing is that i was thinking about the Supernova E3 Pro, not the Iris, since i wonder if the Iris would be too much to run in traffic, but i just found that they have now a "glare free" Iris version that might be the ticket for running a bright light in trafic.

Another concern is their tail light, i like the small and clean design, but since the B&M i have now has a big reflector that i think will make me more visible when the lights from a car are pointing to me i wonder if the Supernova tail light is as safe as the B&M.

BTW, you have a nice setup, i hope you can find and fix soon the problem in your light.

OP, I have the E3 Pro too, but no rear light. I assume you have wired the rear light correctly (i.e. not grounded the light to bike frame)? Sounds like your conclusion is correct, unfortunately. Can you disconnect the rear light entirely to check whether the front standlight feature works at all?

OP, I have the E3 Pro too, but no rear light. I assume you have wired the rear light correctly (i.e. not grounded the light to bike frame)? Sounds like your conclusion is correct, unfortunately. Can you disconnect the rear light entirely to check whether the front standlight feature works at all?

--J

Installation is fine - I went so far as to wrap the wire crimp tubes with electrical tape to ensure no metal would touch inside the heat shrink casing. Before heat shrinking, I spun the front wheel, and the standlight and tail light came on, so everything was ***** dory. I never heard a sound or anything else demarking the moment that the capacitor (or whatever the cause may be) failed, so I suspect the faulty part gave up the ghost once the juice started flowing steadily.

Since the tail light is essentially useless at the moment (thank the gods I also use blinkies) it would be an easy operation to snip the wire and see if the standlight works. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'll definitely take the suggestion.

On a good note, I REALLY like the light itself, which seems unbothered by the drama in the standlight and tail light department).

@coqueraujo - I was originally planning to get the asymmetric lens, but had a hell of a time finding one in stock with the "multi mount" (fork crown mount) - at the time shipments were anticipated in late January/early Feb.
So, I decided to get the symmetrical lens and have been playing with the light angle to find something that works well for urban commuting. I've found a sweet spot, with the intense center beam focused about 80-100 feet ahead of me (rather than at the horizon). This really works well for me, and probably takes the blinding factor somewhat out of the picture.

UPDATE: The folks at Supernova agree that it is probably the capacitor.
They gave me a couple of options for the replacement -
Option 1: standard warranty replacement, where I send the light to Germany and they send a new one to me. I'd have to pay shipping to Germany (is this typical for warranty replacements?)
Option 2: I keep the current light, and they will send me a new one for 58 Euros ($75-$78).

Seems like a no brainer to me. The existing light works great - it is just the standlight and tail light circuit that is buggered. Plus I'd probably spend at least $20-$25 for one way shipping (with some form of expediency) plus any premium on the standard shipping that the factory uses (to get the replacement to me quickly, since I'd be without a reliable light).

So, for a grand total of $190 for the original light plus $77 ($265) I'll have two lights. Cool. I've been wanting to get my wife set up with a dynamo light.

Peter is a distributor for SuperNova, he may warranty the light for you even if you didn't purchase from him. Peter White is in New Hampshire, would save the shipping to Germany.

The SuperNova headlights have some complicated circuitry inside, too complicated if you ask me. I read in the FAQ on the SuperNova site, said that they will upgrade the "software" in the light for free if needed. Apparently, there is some kind of programable IC chip inside. Cold be an issue with the circuit that switches between Dyno Power and standlight.

UPDATE:
I received and installed the replacement light, and it all works just fine. I've been commuting with it for a week now and can report that the asymmetrical lens definitely provides a more expansive, brighter field of light from 0-50 feet than the symmetrical lens, but it does not do nearly as well beyond 50 feet. I can see why these are used together (with a dynamo that can support 2 headlights) to provide the best of both needs.

I think the asymmetrical is a better urban/commuting light (my present use) as it provides a really nice field of illiumination - broad, bright, and very uniform. My wife said that the tail light is quite bright (I had her watch me ride when I was testing the installation).

The capacitor keeps the headlight and tail light illuminated at a modest level at stoplights, and the light levels increase very quickly. I'd say the light achieves full brightness at 3-5 mph. I'm very happy with this setup.